Certification Introduction

UL is the abbreviation of Underwriter Laboratories Inc. (Underwriter Laboratories Inc.). The UL Safety Testing Institute is the most authoritative in the United States and the largest private organization engaged in safety testing and appraisal in the world. It is an independent, non-profit, professional organization that conducts experiments for public safety. Unlike FCC certification, UL certification is a safety certification. UL is mainly engaged in product safety certification and operating safety certification business. Its ultimate goal is to obtain products with a considerable safety level for the market and contribute to the assurance of personal health and property safety. . In the United States, UL is a symbol of safety marks for consumers. Globally, UL is one of the most trusted conformity assessment providers for manufacturers.

Certification category

UL's product certification and testing services can be divided into listing, accreditation and classification.

1. LISTED (LISTED):

Generally speaking, listing is only applicable to complete products and various devices and devices that are replaced or installed by qualified personnel on-site. Various products that belong to UL listing services include: household appliances, medical equipment, computers, and commercial equipment And various electrical products that play a role in buildings, such as power distribution systems, fuses, wires, switches, and other electrical components. Products listed by UL can usually be marked with UL's listing mark on each product. The usage of the listing mark.

2. Recognized:

Approval service is an item of UL service, and the products that it appraise can only be used as components and raw materials on UL listed, graded or other approved products. Approved products are incomplete in structure or have certain restrictions in use to ensure the expected safety performance. In most cases, the tracking services of approved products fall into the R category. Approved products belonging to the L category include electronic wire (AVLV2), processed wire (ZKLU2), wire harness (ZPFW2), aluminum wire (DVVR2), and metal flexible tube (DXUZ2). Approved products require approval marks.

3. Classification:

The grading service only evaluates the specific hazards of the product, or evaluates products that implement other standards (including internationally recognized standards, such as IEC and ISO standards, etc.) other than UL standards. Generally speaking, most graded products are not products used by consumers, but products used in industry or commerce. The classification mark in the UL mark indicates that the product has certain restrictions and specified scope when it is identified by UL. For example, for chemicals such as industrial solvents, only the range of fires that may occur when they reach their ignition temperature is evaluated. The grading service of some products is the same as the listing service, but generally only one aspect or several aspects of the product are evaluated. For example, in the United States, medical X-ray diagnostic equipment must comply with American laws and related radiation emission and beams throughout the country. The flow accuracy is stipulated, but because UL only regards X-ray as a classified product, it only evaluates its mechanical properties, electrical properties and other non-radiation properties.

Applicable product range

Electronic, electrical, mechanical or electromechanical products

Any electronic, electrical, mechanical or electromechanical product with the UL mark indicates that the product has reached the minimum requirements of the generally recognized product safety standards in the United States and Canada. It has been tested and meets the relevant product safety standards, and it also represents the production plant Agree to receive strict periodic inspections to ensure the consistency of product quality, which can be sold to the US and Canadian markets.

application process

1. The applicant submits relevant company and product information

Written application: You should request UL to test your company’s products in writing.

Company Information: Provide the detailed and accurate name, address, contact person, postal code, telephone and fax of the following units in both Chinese and English. (1) Applicant company: the company that submits product testing applications and is responsible for all engineering service costs

(2) Listed companies: companies whose names are listed in various product catalogs published by UL

(3) Production plant: the manufacturer and producer of the product.

Product information: Product information should be provided in English. First determine whether your product falls within the scope of UL testing,

(1) Product name: Provide the full name of the product.

(2) Product model: List all the product models, varieties or classification numbers that need to be tested in detail.

(3) The intended use of the product: for example: home, office, factory, coal mine, ship, etc.

(4) Parts list: list the parts and models (classification numbers), ratings, and manufacturer's names that make up the product in detail. For insulating materials, please provide the name of the raw material, for example: GE Polycarbonate, Lexan Type 104. When the part has obtained UL certification or approval, please prove the specific model of the part and indicate its UL file number.

(5) Electrical performance: For electronic and electrical products. Provide electrical schematic diagram (circuit diagram), electrical performance table.

(6) Structure diagram: For most products, the structure diagram or exploded diagram, ingredient list, etc. of the product must be provided.

(7) Product photos, instructions for use, safety and other items or installation instructions, etc.

2. People make decisions based on the product information provided

When the product information is complete, UL engineers make the following decisions based on the information: the UL standard that the experiment is based on, the engineering cost of the test, the time of the test, the number of samples, etc., to notify you in writing, and a formal application form and follow-up service The agreement is sent to your company. The fee limit is indicated in the application form, which is the maximum project cost estimated by UL based on the test items. Without your company’s written authorization, the fee limit cannot be exceeded.

3. Apply for company remittance, return application form and samples

The UL certification applicant signs the application form and the tracking service agreement, and returns the form to UL company. At the same time, the sample is sent by bank transfer at the post office or by express delivery. Please make an appropriate response to the sample sent for inspection Description (such as name, model). Please send the application form and samples separately. For each application project, UL will assign a unique project number (Project No.) to indicate the project number and the name of the application company when remittances, samples and application forms are sent to facilitate UL's inspection.

4. Product testing

After receiving the application form, remittance, and experimental samples signed by your company, UL will notify you of the completion time of the experimental plan. Product testing is generally carried out in UL laboratories in the United States, and UL can also accept audited third-party test data. The experimental samples will be returned or destroyed according to your request. If the product test results meet the requirements of the UL standard, UL will issue a test qualification report and follow-up service proccdure (FollowUp Service Proccdure) test report that will detail the test conditions, the indicators reached by the sample, the product structure, and the safety signs suitable for the use of the product. The follow-up service rules include a description of the product and instructions for UL regional inspectors. A copy of the test report is sent to the applicant company, and a copy of the tracking service rules is sent to each production factory.

5. The applicant is authorized to use the UL mark

The UL regional inspector in China contacts the production plant for the first factory inspection (Initial Production Inspection).

.IPI), the inspector will check the conditions of your products and their parts in the production line and warehouse inventory to confirm whether the product structure and parts are consistent with the tracking service rules. If required in the rules, the regional inspector will also conduct witness experiments , When the inspection results meet the requirements, the applicant is authorized to use the UL mark.

UL necessity

Products sold in the U.S. market require compulsory UL certification. Whether it is products in the U.S. or exported to other countries, UL certification testing is required. We can see many electronic products in the products on the market. All products have the UL certification mark, which is a conduction and radiation test on the product, which is of great significance in the US market. UL certification is an important passport and pass in the US market. Only this marked product can enter smoothly To the US market.

UL factory inspection

Certified Factory Inspection Inspectors in China's UL area contact the production plants for the first factory inspection (Initial Production Inspection, referred to as IPI). The inspectors check the status of your products and their parts in the production line and warehouse inventory to confirm the product structure Whether and parts are consistent with the tracking service rules, if required in the rules, the area inspector will conduct witness experiments. When the inspection results meet the requirements, the applicant is authorized to use the UL mark.

Following IPI, inspectors will visit the factory from time to time to inspect the product structure and conduct witness experiments. The frequency of inspection is determined by product type and production volume. Most types of products are inspected at least four times a year (the cost of tracking services is not included in the cost of testing). The inspector's inspection is to ensure that the product continues to be consistent with UL requirements. Before you plan to change the product structure or components, please notify UL in advance. For minor changes, there is no need to repeat any experiments. UL can quickly modify the tracking service rules so that the inspector can accept such changes. When UL believes that product changes affect its safety performance, it needs to apply for the company to re-submit samples for necessary testing.

Certification review

Before the first batch of UL-certified products are shipped, the local provincial-level China Import and Export Commodity Inspection Bureau (CCIB) authorized by UL must send personnel to the factory for inspection. Follow up inspections every year.

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